According to the decision of the Hungarian President Katalin Novák published in the Hungarian Gazette, Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler may continue to be the Rector of Széchenyi István University for the next three years. His candidature was previously supported by both the Senate of the institution and the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. In Széchenyi University's governance model, the Rector is the Vice President for Academic Research, who works with the President and the three other Vice Presidents to promote the development of the institution.

The mandate of Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler, Rector of Széchenyi István University, was until 31 December 2023. Therefore, the Board of Trustees of the Széchenyi István University Foundation, which has announced a call for applications to fill the post. The text of the call for applications was prepared by the Senate.

By the deadline of 18 October last year, only one candidate, Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler, submitted his application, which was reviewed and supported by the Senate at its meeting on 30 October. Subsequently, the Board of Trustees of the Foundation evaluated the application and unanimously supported it. The Foundation has accordingly sent the proposal for the appointment of Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler as Rector to the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. The decision on the appointment for a three-year period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026 was published in the 11 January issue of the Hungarian Gazette.

Széchenyi István University aims to contribute to the development of the region through high quality education, research focused on state-of-the-art technologies, sustainability and close relations with companies, social and civil organisations. In order to promote this, the institution has over the past year created a management model that enables it to compete in the domestic and international higher education space. Alongside the President of the University, the Rector and Vice President for Academic Research, Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler, is working to further strengthen the academic performance of the institution, together with three other Vice Presidents, in the further development of key areas. As Vice President for General and Educational Affairs, Dr Zsolt Kovács helps to continuously improve the courses, paying great attention to ensuring that the university provides students with up-to-date knowledge that can be put to good use in practice. Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations, will focus on enhancing the global visibility of the institution by further increasing the number of international students, diversifying international relations and improving the university's position in the world rankings of higher education. As Vice President for Research and Innovation, Professor Dr József Bokor contributes to the development of these two future-shaping areas, supporting the work of the institution's competence centres. In collaboration with them, Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler, Rector and Vice President and  for Academic Research will focus on further strengthening the scientific performance of the University. In the past year, one sixth of the institution's science metrics achievements were attributable to his activities.

The leadership of Széchenyi István University: President Dr. Bálint Filep, Rector and Vice President for Academic Research Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler, Prof. Dr. József Bokor, Vice President for Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations and Dr. Zsolt Kovács, Vice President for General and Educational Affairs (Photo: Csaba József Májer)

"It is a great responsibility and honour for me to work with the leaders of the university to ensure that our institution achieves the best possible outcomes in today's rapidly changing world for all stakeholders, including our students, staff, partners and the wider region. I intend to continue to work towards this goal in the coming period", emphasised Prof. Dr. Ferenc Friedler, Rector and Vice President for Academic Research.

"Ferenc Friedler is a Széchenyi Award-winning researcher in mathematical modelling and optimisation and their application into engineering, who, as a professor, scientist and a leader based on his one-year joint work, has the knowledge and experience to contribute to the further development of the university and to realise the potential of our institution, in cooperation with his colleagues and fellow leaders", said Dr. Bálint Filep, President of Széchenyi István University.